Simon ParkinAussie rockers Wolfmother will be turning it up to 11 when they visit the UEA. The week also includes gigs by lo-fi punk trio Vivian Girls, folk-rockers Midlake and the latest Kerrang! Relentless Energy Tour.Simon Parkin
WOLFMOTHER
UEA, January 22
The Aussie rockers, whose lauded debut, the self-titled Wolfmother sold more than 1.4 million copies worldwide and earned the band a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for the single Woman, arrive in support of their second album Cosmic Egg which hatched last October.
Cosmic Egg saw frontman and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, bassist/keyboardist Ian Peres, drummer Dave Atkins and rhythm guitarist Aidan Nemeth team up with acclaimed producer Alan Moulder at their home studio in Brisbane. Moulder brought a sack of worldly producer experience to the table having previously worked with the likes of My Bloody Valentine, The Smashing Pumpkins, Ride and Nine Inch Nails. The recording process then moved to Los Angeles. Kerrang have recently heralded Wolfmother as 'modern masters of riff-centred, bass-heavy rock alchemy'. Support comes from The Black Angels.
t Further listening: www.wolfmother.com
VIVIAN GIRLS
Norwich Arts Centre, January 23
Twee Off! continue their knack of attracting upcoming US talent by welcoming the swirling noise of the Vivian Girls - Kickball Katy, Cassie Ramone and Ali Koehler.
The much hyped, Brooklyn-based all-gal trio peddle their agreeably lo-fi garage pop, which mixes Valentines-like melodic noise, 60s girl group-influenced harmonies and heavy, pummelling beats to fine effect.
They will be playing songs from their latest album, Everything Goes Wrong, which came out hot on the heels of the reissue of their self-titled debut, and sees the band distil their raw, fun edge through Spector pop, The Ramones and indie pop to produce a far moodier and darker album than its predecessor, a trait which arguably makes the band an even more appealing proposition this time around.
Main support comes Ono Palindromes, who play marvellous post punk-pop grunge. Opening will be Follow Your Heart, Norwich's own super-group featuring members from Le Tetsuo, The Checkout Girls and Matt Riviere.
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/viviangirlsnyc
MIDLAKE
Norwich Arts Centre, January 27
Highly-regarded Texan quintet Midlake make their long-awaited return with a UK to coincide with the release of their third album, The Courage Of Others (out February 1).
Influenced by the likes of Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac, the band's previous album, The Trials Of Van Occupanther, was a mellow milestone - a country rock record for people who didn't think they liked country rock. It was one of the slow-burning success stories of 2007 and to date has sold 50,000 albums in the UK.
Perhaps in a bid to avoid being dubbed the new Eagles, Midlake's new one finds them all bearded-up, ditching country and returning to a slightly earlier, and definitely more British, folk sound with a slower, darker and more carved record, both eerier and dreamier.
This hugely anticipated Norwich show has already sold-out, but if you're lucky you could bag a return or, failing that, beg someone to sell you one. Support comes from Sarah Jaffe.
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/midlake
KERRANG! RESTLESS ENERGY TOUR
UEA, January 27
Kerrang! Relentless Energy Tour 2010 again features some of the hottest young bands in rock with a line-up featuring All Time Low, The Blackout, Young Guns and My Passion.
Baltimore pop-punk band All Time Low are fast becoming one of the hottest bands in the US with a top five album, Nothing Personal, and multiple sold-out tours.
Welsh six-piece The Blackout are one of the most hardworking home-grown bands, with stints on Warped Tour and Taste of Chaos as well as selling out venues across the UK. They released their storming second album The Best In Town in May 2009 and have been non-stop since.
London-based quintet Young Guns have begun to make quite the impact in rock circles over the last year, since the release of their EP Mirrors. My Passion are four young men with a fearless, rebellious intention, DIY ethics and a genre-smashing electronic-induced metallic punk sound.
t Further listening: tour.kerrang.com
SOUNDS IN THE CITY
t January 22
Rebel Alliance Recordings Tour: feat. Random Hand + more (ska/metal) - Arts Centre
Overdrive (country/rock) - Brickmakers
Egypt (rock) - King Edward VII
Screaming Ground (indie/punk) - Marquee
Shrapnel (metal) - B2
Dulcet Tones (rock/indie) - Blueberry
Hayley Moses (bluegrass) - Black Horse
t January 23
Martyna & The John Bowman Trio (jazz, 2pm) - Arts Centre Caf� Bar
White Heat (rock/blues) - Brickmakers
Grimace (metal) - Marquee
Texas Thunder (rock) - King Edward VII
Norwich Pena Flamenca (Spanish) - Cider Shed
Firewire (rock) - B2
Tattooed Lies (rock) - Bridge House
Danstar (pop/rock) - Lakenham Cock
ABC Blues Brothers (tribute) - Trowel & Hammer
t January 24
Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) - Brickmakers
t January 25
Tom Russell (alt folk) - Arts Centre
Jazz N Jam (open mic) - Blueberry
t January 26
Pint Sized Promo: feat. Brooke + more (pop-punk) - B2
The Session (Irish) - Cider Shed
Musically Stacked (acoustic) - Rumsey Wells
Folk Night (folk) - Micawber's Tavern
t January 27
Manic Vision: feat. Tin Man + more (indie/rock) - Waterfront
The Chaplins (indie) - B2
Jam Session (open mic) - Brickmakers
t January 28
Limehouse Lizzy (tribute) - Waterfront
Super Action Heroes (rock) - Brickmakers
Track 3 Promo: feat. The City Calls + more (indie) - B2
Dirty Havana + more (rock) - Marquee
Perfect Strangers (rock/pop) - Blueberry
The Rum Brothers (blues) - Rose Tavern
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